ADM Kids

Q: How do our 8-year-olds compare physically to kids in other countries?
 
A: While there are many fit 8-year-olds in the United States, unfortunately, as a whole, the fitness level of our American kids lags a bit behind what we see in other countries.

Unlike our friends in Finland, for example, who strongly emphasize a healthy lifestyle, participation for all and a sporty culture at home and within their children’s educational system, too often American culture and systems de-emphasize fitness. As a result, we’re seeing our children's physical capabilities diminished.
 
The reality is, in the U.S., physical fitness standards and recommended guidelines are widely varied and not guaranteed.
 
According to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition:

• Only six states (Illinois, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York and Vermont) require physical education in every grade, K-12.
• Nearly one-third of American high school students play video or computer games for three or more hours on an average school day.
• Children now spend more than seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen (e.g., television, video games, computers).

And consider these stats from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Only 3.8 percent of elementary schools, 7.9 percent of middle schools and 2.1 percent of American high schools provided daily physical education or its equivalent.
• Only 11 percent of U.S. school districts require students to spend at least 50 percent of physical education time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

Given those statistics, if you're waiting for someone else to provide an avenue for developing
your child’s motor skills, physical fitness and athleticism, there’s a pretty good chance it won’t happen.
 
Parents: It’s time to take charge!
 
Physical literacy is defined as “the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.”
 
We have to be the leaders in building the foundation for physical literacy in our children, because the institutions largely aren’t, society isn’t, and even many youth athletic programs are severely lacking in this regard.
 
Bypassing the acquisition of basic and specialized movement and sport skills during the this 8U stage is very detrimental to a child’s future participation and success in physical activity and sport. And it’s not about them simply playing hockey. They need to develop the full complement of physical ABCs (agility, balance, coordination), which only comes through vigorous participation in a variety of physical activities (e.g., gymnastics, swimming, running, jumping, skating, skiing, throwing, striking an object, kicking a ball, riding bikes, climbing trees).
 
Introducing your child to different physical stimuli on varied surfaces and a variety of sports will make a huge difference in the long run, not only in terms of their athletic performance, but also in terms of their health and fitness for a lifetime. Put an emphasis on it.
 
For more information, please click here.
 
For age-appropriate (and fun!) dryland training ideas, please click here.